Ventilating apparatus for life-boats.



No. 687,638. Patented Nov. 26, l90l.

J. MAIN.

VENTILATING APPARATUS FOR LIFE BOATS.

(Application filed Sept. 25, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MAIN, LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

VENTILATING APPARATUS FOR LIFE-BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,638, dated November 26, 1901.

I Application filed September 25, 1900. Serial No. 31,078. (No model.)

To all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES MAIN, a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, residing at 4:7 Newlands street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented a new and original Ventilating Apparatus for Life-Boats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

Myinvention relates to the improvements in ventilating apparatus for life-boats, whether floating normally or bottom up.

The nature of this invention consists in the employment of tubes passing through the deck and bottom of the boat. These tubes are open at the ends and are perforated about one foot from either end, and they are provided with two sliding sleeves or bands, which slide automatically to cover and uncover these perforations, according to whichever side is uppermost. The sleeves rest on a collar fitted around the tube for this purpose.

Figure 1 is a cross-section of a lifeboat, showing the application thereto of the ventilator-tubes. Fig. 2 shows the ventilator-tube apart from the boat.

Fig. 1 shows the tube A with sliding sleeves B, the perforations O, and the collars D D.

Fig. 2 shows two tubes fixed in a boat, tubes A A, sleeves BB, perforations C C, and collars D D, while the sockets or strengthening-plates are marked E. The cowls on upper ends are F.

Four three-inch tubes may be fitted in the boat, and where they pass through the deck and bottom they are securely fastened to metal plates provided for this purpose. The upper ends are raised three inches above the deck. The ends of the tubes may be left open or fitted with cowls F; also, the number and diameter of these tubes may be increased, if required. The intended purpose of these tubes and the action of the sliding sleeves is set forth as follows: The boat being in its normal position, the upper perforations in the tubes are left open and free for the admission of air into the interior, as the upper sleeves are now resting on their collars D D, while the lower perforations are now covered, by reason of the lower sleeves having slipped down and covering them, thus preventing the entrance of water. Now to show the double purpose and usefulness of this invention in the event of the boat capsizing and remaining bottom up the action of the sliding sleeve is immediately reversed. The sleeves nearest the deck automatically fall down and cover the perforations allotted to them, thus preventing the inlet of water, while the sleeves nearest the bottom of the boat have also fallen back on their collars, thus uncovering the perforations formerly submerged and covered by them, thereby again allowing the free admission of air. I hereby contend that by the combination of these tubes and the corresponding action of the sliding sleeves sufficient ventilation is provided for the occupants of the boat at all times and under all conditions and positions the boat may assume.

What I claim as my invention is- In a life-boat, the combination of a ventilating-tube open and perforated at each end with a sleeve or band slidably mounted thereon at each end to automatically cover and uncover said perforations to exclude the entrance of water and permit the free entrance of air in all positions the boat may assume, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MAIN.

Witnesses:

WM. PIERCE, H. WATSON. 

